Freshman Kyle Fischer watched helplessly as his friend Andrew Polakowski was crushed to death in a Stradley Hall elevator accident Friday.

So did about 20 other students who were packed into the elevator and on their way out to campus-area parties at about 11:30 p.m., Fischer said.

“All the people (in the elevator) were trying to get help and trying to stay calm,” he said. “Some of the people were using their cell phones and others were using the elevator’s intercom.”

The elevator’s doors had stayed open as the car began to move to the next floor, Fischer said. Polakowski, a freshman pre-business major, tried to escape by climbing out while the car was moving, he said.

“He may have just panicked or something, but it’s not like anyone can be sure,” said Fischer, who played soccer with Polakowski at McDowell Senior High School in Erie, Pa. The two decided to attend Ohio State together after visiting campus in April, and were roommates on the third floor of Stradley.

Polakowski was pinned between the elevator and the third floor, said Rick Amweg, assistant chief of University Police.

Fischer said it seemed like 10 to 15 minutes had passed before firefighters helped Fischer and others exit to the second floor. The last they saw, Polakowski was still stuck.

“The only thing we could see was his legs,” Fischer said.

Polakowski had chest and abdominal injuries and died of mechanical asphyxia and was pronounced dead at the scene, Franklin County Coroner Dr. Bradley Lewis said to The Associated Press.

Polakowski was the second freshman to die in an OSU residence hall within a week. Matthew Valus, an engineering student, was found unconscious in his room in Nosker Hall on Oct. 13, according to a letter sent out to Nosker residents by Hall Director Julie Sanzone.

Valus was pronounced dead at OSU Medical Center later in the day, according to University Police. Sanzone said the cause of death “appears to be natural causes” and the official autopsy report will not be available from the coroner for about a week.

“It’s been really hard on the housing staff to go through two of these experiences in a week,” said Steve Kremer, assistant vice president of student affairs. “Both of the incidents are reminders to all of us that even if you think you’re invulnerable or immortal at age 18, life is still fragile.”

After the accident, the elevator where Polakowski died was shut down. A small yellow sign informed students it was closed for an investigation by the Ohio Department of Commerce, the state’s regulatory agency for elevator safety. In addition, University Police are conducting their own investigation, Amweg said.

Foster Schade, who lives on the fourth floor, said the elevators in Stradley have always been “kinda rickety.”

Kevin Gorjanc, a freshman pre-business major, said he’s been taking the stairs even though he lives on the 11th floor.

“I used to try to hold the door open to the last minute,” Gorjanc said. “I don’t mess around like that any more.”

A letter about Polakowski’s accident was delivered to Stradley residents hours after his death, Kremer said. At least 30 staff members were immediately on hand to console students.

“A lot of people knew him,” Kremer said. Polakowski was both an OSU Welcome Leader and a Stradley office assistant, who worked the front desk of the dorm, said Stradley Hall Director Kristin Mehl.

“It’s very much impacting students throughout the building,” she said. Grief counseling is available to all residents.

Fischer, a journalism major, said he had known Polakowski since freshman year of high school and both decided to come to OSU because they liked “the campus, the sports, the school pride and just the atmosphere.”

He was interviewed via the Internet from his home in Erie. His parents picked him up from OSU early Saturday morning, he said.

“(Polakowski) had been having a good time since we had arrived here making new friends, going to football games and just taking in the overall college experience,” Fischer said.

He and Polakowski were among four graduates from McDowell Senior High School who attended OSU as first-quarter freshmen this year, said Alyssa Doehrel, a freshman pharmacy major who was also in their McDowell graduating class of about 580 students.

“Andy was very popular in high school,” Doehrel said. “He was friends with the smart kids and the jocks and just everyone because he was that kind of a person.”

Polakowski enjoyed listening to music and playing sports, especially basketball and soccer, Fischer said. “He was always a happy person and had a warm personality,” he said. “It’ll be weird not having him in the room, and not having him there.”

The Polakowski family has made funeral arrangements with the Dusckas-Martin Funeral Home in Erie, Pa. according to Kim Pachell in the Student Advocacy Center.

Viewing will be held Tuesday and a funeral on Wednesday, followed by Catholic mass. OSU is assisting with transportation for students who would like to attend. For more information call Pachell at (614) 292-1111.